AURICULOTHERAPY DEVICE
A device and method for providing auriculotherapy are disclosed. The device has a base and first side. The first side of the device contains a plurality of therapeutic projections which engage acupressure points of the ear. The device is fitted to the ear such that the therapeutic projections provide constant stimulation of the desired acupressure point.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/698,554, filed on Jul. 16, 2018.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to acupressure-based therapeutic devices. More specifically, the invention relates to auriculotherapy devices which engage the acupressure points of the ear to provide therapeutic relief.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONNon-Western and holistic medicine practices have existed for thousands of years. These practices compliment or are alternatives to conventional Western medicine. Examples of such practices include acupuncture and acupressure techniques.
Acupressure is a practice that seeks to stimulate nerve connections in the body through application of physical pressure to known acupressure points. Unlike acupuncture, acupressure treatments do not require the insertion of needles into the skin or other invasive procedures. Acupressure can be applied to various parts of the body, including the ear.
Acupressure of the ear, also known as auricular acupressure or auriculotherapy, was first popularized in the West by Dr. Paul Nogier. Practitioners of auriculotherapy apply pressure to various points on the external ear. The stimulation triggers a therapeutic response, which can treat various ailments and disorders. The fundamentals of auriculotherapy are summarized in the World Health Organizations “Report of the Working Group on Auricular Acupuncture Nomenclature” (Lyon, France 1990) which is hereby incorporated by reference. Auriculotherapy has been widely studied and documented in numerous medical journals, such as Europ. J. Integrative Med. 2016 October: 817-834, and Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med. 2007 September; 4(Suppl. 1): 13-16, which are also hereby incorporated by reference.
Auriculotherapy devices are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235688, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,143. While the prior art discloses protrusions that stimulate acupressure points on the ear, the disclosed protrusions do not accommodate the contours of the ear. As such the stimulative effect of the protrusions on the ear's acupressure points is limited. Additionally, given the small size of the ear, the acupressure points in the ear are correspondingly small. Despite this, the prior art utilizes at most ten protrusions for a given area of the ear, limiting the amount each pressure point in the ear can be engaged.
What is needed is an auriculotherapy device which can effectively engage the contours and small size of the acupressure points of the ear, maximizing the stimulation of the ear's acupressure points.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for providing therapeutic pressure to an ear. The device has a base having a first side, and therapeutic projections extend from the first side of the base.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the base provides for two or more rows of therapeutic projections, wherein each of the rows of projections vary in height to engage the contours of the ear. The amount of therapeutic projections ensures that a large surface area of the ear, and in turn a large surface area of the corresponding acupressure point, is engaged.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for delivering therapeutic pressure to an ear. The device has a base having a first side, and therapeutic projections extend from the first side of the base.
Turning to the Figures, wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout several views, the anatomy of the ear 10 is depicted in
It was determined by Dr. Nogier and other auriculotherapy researchers that the embryological germ layers of a human fetus mirror the anatomy of the ear. As
It has been determined that treatments to the zones of the ear have a corresponding therapeutic effect to physiologies of the body that develop from the embryological germ layers that mirror the zones of the ear. For example,
A non-exhaustive list of zones of the ear treated, and the corresponding portions of the body affected, is further summarized in Table I below:
A preferred embodiment of the auriculotherapy device 40 is depicted in
The base 41 further defines a first side 42. Attached to first side 42 are connection pieces 43 and 44. Connection pieces 43 and 44 secure the auriculotherapy device 40 to the ear by fitting through an ear piercing and clipping to the ear, respectively. Connection pieces 43 and 44 may be a post, a pin, or any other apparatus that can be fit through an ear piercing. Alternatively, connection pieces 43 and 44 may be a clamp, a clip, a magnet or any other apparatus that does not require insertion through an ear piercing yet attaches the device to the ear. Connection pieces 43 and 44 may also contain portions which fit through an ear piercing as well as portions which otherwise attach to the ear. As depicted in
Extending from first side 42 are a plurality of therapeutic projections 45. Therapeutic projections 45 extend from first side 42 at an angle that is preferably between about 45° to about 90°, and more preferably 90°. Therapeutic projections 45 press up against and apply pressure to specific acupressure points on the ear, providing a therapeutic effect. It has been determined that a large number of small diameter projections provide a superior engagement of the acupressure points and in turn provide a superior therapeutic effect. In the embodiment disclosed in
As shown in
It has been determined that by varying the height of therapeutic projections 45, the auriculotherapy device 40 can better accommodate the contours of the ear and provide more effective therapeutic relief. In the embodiment best depicted in
The base further defines a second side 51, which is depicted in
A second preferred embodiment 60 is depicted in
A third preferred embodiment 70 is depicted in
Extending from first side 72 are a plurality of therapeutic projections 74. Therapeutic projections extend at an angle preferably between about 45° to about 90° from first side 72, and more preferably extend 90° from first side 72. Therapeutic projections 35 target specific acupressure points on the ear, providing a therapeutic effect. In the embodiment disclosed in
Method of Use
An auriculotherapy device is placed near the portion of the ear corresponding to the acupressure point representing the desired therapy. Where the auriculotherapy device has a connection piece the auriculotherapy device can be placed at any portion of the ear to which the auriculotherapy device can be connected, including but not limited to the tragus, concha, helix, anti helix, antitragus and lobe of the ear. Where the auriculotherapy device does not contain a connection piece, the auriculotherapy device is pressure fit onto an edge of the ear such as the helix or the outer lobe. Once the auriculotherapy device is attached to the ear, the therapeutic projections engage the desired acupressure point. Since the therapeutic projections vary in height, the auriculotherapy device accommodates the contours of the ear, providing a superior engagement of the desired acupressure points. So long as the auriculotherapy device is connected to the ear, the therapeutic projections continue to engage the acupressure point.
WORKING EXAMPLESThe following Examples provide a nonlimiting illustration of certain embodiments of the invention.
A first patient was provided with the auriculotherapy device depicted in
Although the invention has been described by reference to its preferred embodiment as is disclosed in the specification and drawings above, many more embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A device for providing therapeutic pressure to an ear, said device comprising:
- a base, wherein said base has a first side;
- wherein said first side of said base has n therapeutic projections extending from said first side of said base; and
- wherein n≥2.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said base has a second side opposite said first side.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein said therapeutic projections extend from said first side of said base at an angle between about 45° and about 90°.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of platinum, 24 karat gold, 14 karat gold, surgical steel, and sterling silver.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein said one or more therapeutic projections comprise a cylindrical base portion and a hemispherical top portion.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein said one or more therapeutic projections comprises a first row of therapeutic projections and a second row of therapeutic projections.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein said first row of therapeutic projections has a height between about 1.0 mm to about 3.0 mm, and said second row of therapeutic projections has a height of between about 2.0 mm to about 4.5 mm.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein said one or more therapeutic projections comprises a third row of therapeutic projections, wherein said third row of projections has a height between about 3.0 mm and about 4.0 mm.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein said one or more therapeutic projections has a diameter between about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a connection piece; wherein said connection piece is attached to said first side of said base.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein said base is curvilinear; and wherein said base engages the helix portion of said ear through a pressure-fit.
12. The device of claim 6, wherein said first row of therapeutic projections is separated from said second row of therapeutic projections by a distance between about 0.5 mm to about 2.0 mm.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein n≥15
14. The device of claim 1, wherein n≥30
15. The device of claim 1, wherein n≥50
16. A method of providing auriculotherapy, said method comprising the steps of:
- attaching a first device to a first portion of the ear;
- wherein said first device comprises a base;
- wherein said base of said first device has a first side;
- wherein said first side of said base of said first device has n therapeutic projections extending from said first side of said base; and
- wherein n≥2.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said first portion of the ear is selected from the group consisting of the Tragus, the Upper Concha, the Lower Concha, the Root of the Helix, the Ascending Limb of the Helix, the Body of the Helix, the Tail of the Helix, the Anti Helix, the Anti Helix—Scaphoid Fossa, the Anti Helix—Navicular Fossa, the Anti Helix—Apex Upper Third, the Anti Helix—Middle Third, the Anti Helix—Lower Third, the Anti Helix—Superior Root, the Antitragus, the Antitragus—Inter Tragal Notch, and Lobe of the Ear.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein said first portion of the ear is the antihelix; and wherein n≥36.
19. The method of claim 16, said method further comprising the steps of:
- attaching a second device to a second portion of the ear;
- wherein said second device comprises a base;
- wherein said base of said second device has a first side;
- wherein said first side of said base of said second device has m therapeutic projections extending from said first side of said base; and
- wherein m≥2.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein m≥36;
- wherein said first portion of the ear is the tragus; and
- wherein said section portion of the ear is the helix.
21. The method of claim 16, wherein said first portion of the ear comprises the helix and antihelix.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 11, 2019
Publication Date: Jan 16, 2020
Inventor: Ashley Frer (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 16/509,080